Read A Bright Particular Star Online

Authors: Elizabeth Hanbury

A Bright Particular Star (33 page)

The contrast
between husband and wife
was st
artling
.
Unlike Lady Dinniscombe
’s
el
egant but
understated
attire, Sir Seymour
’s
style was
extraordinarily flamboyant
.
The starched points of his shirt collar almost reached his ears; his coat
, clearly
from the hands of a master
,
could
only be d
onned with
help
,
so closely did it fit his person
.
H
i
s cravat, arranged with
astonishing intricacy, was wondrous to behold and the
pale biscuit coloured
pantaloons which adorned his legs showed not a single crease.
A garish yellow and blue
waistcoat
was stretched around his
girth.
The silver tassels which de
corated his
Hessian boots
danced in a jaunty fashion as
he walked.
Several fobs hung at his waist and
suspended around
his neck on a long, thin ribbon was a silver-mounted quizzing glass.

His dress suggested the
empty-headed
buffoon
but
,
although
Sir Seymour
’s
countenance wa
s as
amiable
and
open
as his manners
,
the
keen
way he
looked
out upon th
e world gave a
clue to the
intellect
behind
his appearance
.

Unfashionably,
Sir Seymour adored his wife.
He was
one of the richest men in England
as well as
one of the most fashion conscious,
but
he
had tramped
two
m
iles through deep
snow on his Gloucestershire estate last Christmas
, dressed
in an old greatcoat and
leather breeches
,
in order
to oblige his spouse
by delivering
a food parcel
to a gravely
ill tenant
.
Sir Seymour and Harriet
had
been married for over
a year
,
according to
the
letter
s
Sophie had received from Olivia,
but
their affection was
clearly
deep, heartfelt and mutual
.
Th
e ardent glance h
e bestowed upon his wife
and the
way he kissed her
hand
when he came into the room
made Sophie wish
she
too
c
ould
be
so loved
one day.
T
his directed her though
ts to
wards
Theo, but she wrenched
them
back
from that
futile route
to concentrate
on what Olivia was saying,

…and Lady Dinniscombe
and
Sir Seymour have
made
me
most
welcome.

Sophi
e
,
noting
Olivia’s
glowing features,
t
houg
ht she had never seen her
looking more beautiful, or more confide
nt.
She wore a
primrose-coloured morning dress of fine cambric, with trimmings of muslin Van-dyked at the edge.
She was
blossoming
under Harriet and Sir Seymou
r
’s
care
, although Olivia
’s
next comment made Sophie
realize
there was another reason.


Mr
.
Grey has called
several times
,

explaine
d Olivia
.

H
e asks a
bout you
, Sophie, and
says he intends to visit you
soon.


Excellent
fellow,

observed Sir Seymour, nodding.

“D
o you know
Mr
.
Grey well
?

inquire
d
So
phie, trying to sound nonchalant.


I know him throu
gh

er

official channels
,

said
Sir Seymour
,
looking
a little
uncomfortable
.

Sop
hie would have asked more,
but Harriet int
ervened.


How are you finding
London,
Miss
Devereux
?


Very well,
although I have not managed to see
as much of it as I would like
.

“D
oes
your cousin Peregrine
escort you?

Seeing her guest
’s
look of surprise
,
Harriet continued
with a smile,

I hope you do not min
d.
Olivia has told me
abou
t
your situation
.
She is
worried
her brother will
make a nuisance of himself
where you are concerned
.


Is he
, Sophie?

asked
Olivia.

He has called here but once and
,
although I quizzed him, he would not be drawn into conversation about you.


Not r
eally.
I
have managed to avoid him so far, d
espite James
and his Mama
encouraging
me
otherwise.

Olivia
’s
brows rose.
“D
on
’t
they understand
what sort of a man he is?


I don
’t
believe they do
,

said
Sophie.

S
ir Seymour tapped
his quizzing glass against his lower lip, his expression thoughtful
.

Perhaps
it would be wise if you talked
to Lord Verney again about
Peregrine
.


I have tried,

confessed Sophie,

but
James and Lady Verney are determined
to find me a suitor quickly.


But what is this?
Your
friendship with James
has not been re
kindled then?

said Olivia, giving her
a
puzzled,
searching look.

A flush stole into Sophie
’s
cheeks.

W
e have
agreed we would not suit.


I see,

said Olivia, after a pause.
“T
his changes matters completely.
But then who is L
ord Verney considering
a
suitable


Seeing
S
ophie
’s
wry
expression, Olivia squeaked in disbelief,

Perry!


I fear so,

she replied
.

James is to be married soon

the betrothal has not yet been announced because the lady is
still in black gloves.
I can
’t
blame him for being reluctant to expla
in my presence to Lady Penelope Crighton, but he
wil
l consider no alternative
.
He
is
intransigent on the subject
of me living with a chaperon
e
and t
he
only
solution as far a
s James is concerned is for me to marry
.

A
heavy
f
rown
had
descended on Sir Seymour
’s
brow
.
He studied Sophie
through his quizzing glass,
but
made no further comment and shortly
afterward
,
he and
Harri
et
left
, leaving Sophie and Olivia alone.

When Sophie asked Olivia if
she
had heard from her mother
, Olivia nodded and lost no time in vo
icing her concerns
.

“S
ophie, I dread the thought of going back!
Sir Seymour and Lady Dinniscombe
have been so kind and
I’m
ashamed to say I
haven
’t
missed Mama or Perry at all.
What about you?
How are things in Brook Street?
I’m
so
sorry t
o hear about you and James.
I
know how much you were looking forward to seeing him again.

The colour in Sophie
’s
cheeks deepened
, but
she
said firmly,

W
e

ve both changed
and m
arriage is out of the question.
You
mustn
’t
think
I’m
sad about it
, though, because
I’m
not.
James has grown so pompous I hardly recognise him.

She
gave a deep sigh.

I feel incredibly
stupid
and
naïve
,
Livvy, but
I can
’t
regret
wha
t has happened.
I
f I hadn
’t
tried to reach James,
we
might never have got
away from Ludstone
.
What has Sir Seymour said about
Mr
Grey?


Very little,

replied
Olivia
.

Both Lady Dinniscombe
and Sir Seymour seem on good terms with him,
b
ut I don
’t
know where they met
or how long
they have been acquainted
.
He visits regularly,
but
he spends most
of the
time
with Sir Seymour
in the
study
discussing business
.

A
little smile
curved Sophie
’s
lips
.

I’m
sure he
does not call purely
for the pleasure
of Sir Seymour
’s
company.

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